Admitted patent troll claims business is legitimate

In the past, this blog has offered tips for businesses that have been forced to fight back against "patent trolls"—companies that collect patents and turn around and sue those who try to use the intellectual property. 

Since patent trolls do not sell any products or services themselves, many have questioned their value to society. Businesses don't like paying the legal fees necessary to defend themselves from court challenges, and often choose to settle. Indeed, even the White House has made numerous policy recommendations to Congress regarding ways in which the federal government can take action to solve this problem.

Or is it a problem? In a recent interview with Ad Week, Robert Berman—who admits to being a patent troll—defended his profession as "a legitimate business."

Berman told the news source that he licensed the V-chip, which is used to block television programs. He also runs a technology development company with 53 patents. While critics say that his efforts to sue businesses that use his intellectual property are equivalent to extortion, Berman claims that he is acting in defense of inventors.

"Our business model is not to collect license fees or harass 1,500 or 2,000 people who don't have the expertise to what is being alleged," Berman said. "We go after companies that are manufacturers or sellers of a product. What is also unethical is to approach someone and say, 'Pay me because it's cheaper than litigating.' We don't engage in nuisance lawsuits. We don't form shell companies and try to play hide the ball."

Until the government and the business community decide how they will treat patent trolls, it is important for companies to defend themselves against intellectual property lawsuits. That's where a Phoenix business attorney can help.

Categorised in: Intellectual Property Law

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